Abia post-election case: APC chapter lauds judicial affirmation on Senator Kalu’s reelection

By Chinedu Emeruwa Chinedu

The All Progressives Congress in Abia state has lauded the affirmation of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s reelection for a second term in office by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia state.

The party congratulated Senator Orji Kalu on the affirmation of his reelection by the tribunal.

Recall that Orji Kalu who was the APC senatorial flagbearer for Abia north seat during the concluded february 25, 2023 national assembly election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), polled a total highest of 30,805 votes to defeat Nnamdi Iro Oji, the candidate of the Labour Party who scored got 27,540 votes to come second place.

While Kalu’s other opponent Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 15,175 votes to place third.

However, dissatisfied on outcome of the poll, Ohuabunwa and Oji approached the national assembly election petition tribunal with separate suits, challenging Kalu’s declaration as winner of the concluded election conducted in Abia north senatorial district in Abia state.

They duo asked the court to overturn the election of the former Abia Governor as declared by the national Electoral Commission, alleging irregularities.

In September 12, the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the state capital, upheld the victory of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu representing Abia-North Senatorial zone in the February 25 polls.

A three man panel led by Justice Samson Paul -Gang in its unanimous ruling on Tuesday dismissed the petition of People’s Democratic Party’s Mao Ohuabunwa and Labour Party’s Nnamdi Iro Orji for lacking merit.

The court while upholding the victory of Kalu of the All Progressives Congress, APC said that the election of the former Senate Chief Whip compiled with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The tribunal judges also faulted the arguments of both petitioners that election did not hold in over 120 polling units mainly in Ohafia and Arochukwu Local Government Areas of the zone.

Earlier, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Bende local government council area in Abia state, Hon Ulu Onwuchekwa, while reacting on Wednesday, described the court’s verdict as true affirmation of overwhelming supports and votes given to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu by people during the just-concluded poll in Abua north and all other parts of Abia state, in order to continue with his effective representation at the senate for another four years..

According to party leadership, “the effective and efficient representation displayed by the federal lawmaker had engendered the buildings of socio- economic and Infrastructural projects in most parts of Abia north zone which are visible for the world to see.

“Based on this purposeful leadership cum representation, people of this senatorial zone decided again that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu should continue to represent us at the senate. And this honorable tribunal in its wisdom in line with the 2022 electoral act as amended, and constitution of the land”.

The Abia chapter of the APC called on the Abia north Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Mao Ohuabunwa to desist from distracting the lawmaker and join hands with him to take Abia north and the state at large to higher pedestal in critical developments.

“Ohuabunwa should allow Senator Kalu to concentrate in his legislative service to our people. He must allow him and team up with him, through bringing forward his wealths of experiences in order to complement great efforts of our leader, Senator Orji Kalu. Elections and politics had come and gone. This is time to render our maximum support to those entrusted with people’s mandates, so as to deliver on their electoral promises”.

The APC leadership further urged party members and teeming supporters across all electoral wards in Bende local government area and Abia as whole, to remain steadfast and resolute in their continued supports to Senator Orji Uzor and all other political office holders elected under its platform in the state, reassuring them to expect more and bountiful developmental projects in their various doorsteps from the party leaders now the tribunal had resolved all post-2023 election cases frivilously trumped up by opposition parties against the ex-governor.